Korean J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2004 Jun;10(1):81-85.

A Case of Diffuse Esophageal Spasm following Reflux Esophagitis

• Koo HS
• Huh KC
• Kim SM
• Lee GS
• Lee TH
• Im EH
• Choi YW
• Kang YW

Abstract

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is a motility disorder of the esophagus characterized by simultaneous non-peristaltic contractions with high amplitude and long duration accompanied by chest pain and dysphagia. There are various hypotheses of the mechanism leading to the development of DES. DES has been classified into reflux associated DES (RDES) caused by acid exposure, and idiopathic DES (IDES) of unknown cause. Treatment is specific to the subtype. IDES is traditionally treated by smooth muscle relaxant, calcium channel blocker, etc. RDES symptoms can be reduced by H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPI). We recently assessed a 45-year-old female patient with known bronchial asthma and reflux esophagitis who complained of chest pain and recent onset dysphagia. She had reflux esophagitis on UGI endoscopy and DES on esophageal manometry. She was diagnosed as having DES following reflux esophagitis. Dysphagic symptoms were relieved by PPI. We report a case of DES following reflux esophagitis and provide a review of the literature.

Keyword

Diffuse esophageal spasm; Reflux esophagitis; Dysphagia; Gastroesophageal reflux

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Calcium Channels
Chest Pain
Deglutition Disorders
Endoscopy
Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse*
Esophagitis, Peptic*
Esophagus
Female
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Manometry
Middle Aged
Muscle, Smooth
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Calcium Channels
Proton Pump Inhibitors